Introduced in 2009, the Orange Circle Award recognizes altruistic members of the Syracuse University community who have done extraordinary things in the service of others.

2016 Recipients

In 2016, the Orange Circle Award was presented to members of the Syracuse University community who are making a difference on and off the SU campus: OttoTHON, a student-run philanthropic organization that strives to raise awareness and funds for Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital; Tumay Tunur, Ph.D., an accomplished dancer who uses her skills to teach both the young and the elderly, with a special focus on people with Parkinson’s disease; and Matthew Zeller G’06, founder of No One Left Behind, a nonprofit that assists combat translators as they pursue visas and long-term U.S. residency. Meet them in the video below, then read more about all our recipients.

Nomination Criteria

The Orange Circle Award honors individuals who go above and beyond in their daily lives and who possess a deep responsibility for extraordinary philanthropic acts. These are not limited to financial support, but also include volunteerism-those acts that better society through contributions of time and talent.

All Syracuse University alumni, faculty, staff, administration, students, and student organizations are eligible to nominate individuals or groups they feel are worthy recipients of the Orange Circle Award.

Orange Circle nominees must exemplify the following qualities and characteristics:

They must be affiliated in some way with Syracuse University, but not necessarily be students or alumni. Members of the SU faculty and staff are also eligible; however, students and alumni will comprise at least two-thirds of Orange Circle winners.

They must exhibit the best qualities of Orange spirit-the willingness to work hard, a concern for others, and a desire to change the lives of others for the better.

They must have an outstanding record of service and philanthropy to their cause. This service may or may not be in the form of financial support; contributions of time and/or talent are also valuable forms of philanthropy.

They must, through their actions, display a commitment to incite change in the world around them.

They must have a history of dedication and service to Syracuse University.

In addition, all nominees should have:

An official nomination from a member of the SU community (NO self-nominations will be accepted).

Nominations for the Orange Circle Award are accepted in the fall. Watch for future announcements and a link to the nomination form!